Vending machine



June 20,y 1944. F, NIEWOEHNER L l 2,351,779

VENDING MAGHI'NE Filed July 28. 1941 l' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRED Nl'EwoEH NER 'AT'roRNFv .1une2o,'1944. ENIEWQEHNER 2,351,779'

VENDING MACHINE INVENTOR. FRED NIE-woEHN En A'T TORNEY June 20, 1944. F. NlEwoEHNER` vENInNcs MAGHINE Filed July 2e; 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. url

E O N ma E WN T F-fI W N D E R F Y B June 20, 1944.

VENDING MACHINE v Filed July 2a. 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. .FRED NlEwoEH/,NER

lBY M ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES n N. PATENT @Z- oFFlcE. N

VENDING MACHINE Fred Niewoehncr, New York, N. Y., assignor to Interstate Vending Machine Company of St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 28, 1941, Serial No. 404,358

This invention relates generally to vending machines and more specifically to coin-controlled vending machines for vending various articles of merchandise, the predominant object of the invention being to provide an improved vending machine which is of greatly simplied construction and arrangement and which is capable of performing its intended funcitons in an improved and highly efficient manner.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improvedl vending machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section of the improved vending machine taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section of the machine taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the housing of the machine in section, and illustrating in rear elevation the mechanism and parts of the machine which are located within the housing.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical section-taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical section of the lower portion of the machine showing the coin receiving mechanism and parts of the ma'- chine which are arranged adjacent thereto. Fig. ll is a fragmentary, side elevation of an upper portion of the ymachine showing associated parts of a merchandise delivery mechanism of the machine and with `the housing omitted. 1

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line I2-l2 of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing parts of the mechanism illustrated thereinsuitably connected together to provide a 'unitary-- 1o claims. (c1. S12- 94) housing structure. The front of the housing of, the machine A is closed by an upper closure 2' and a lower closure 3, the `upper front closurev being hingedly attached tothe' top wall lb of the Ahousing as indicated to the'bestadvantage'at f4' in Fig. 2, andr the lower; front closure being hingedly attached to the bottom wall lb of the housing as indicated tothe best advantage vat 5 in Fig.,"3. As is shown to good advantagevin Fig. 3' the lower front closure 3 is provided, at a point adjacent to its upperl end, with an inwardly projected offset`2 and the lower portion of the upper,` front closure 2 overlaps and `engages fthe inwardly disposed vertical wall portion vwhichprovides the upper part ofV said offset portion. Inorder to seal the front of the housingV of the `machine so as to prevent unauthorized access to the interiorof the housing aI suitable lock' (Fig. l) is `provided which is adapted to secure the upper, front closurein its closed posi-1 tion as shown in Fig. 3, and because the lower portion of said upper closureoverlaps and .engages the upper portion of the lower closure3, said lower closure isv also secured in its` closedy position. From the foregoing it is plain that they front of the housing may be opened by an author-f ized person to expose the mechanism within the housing by releasing the lock lV through the use of a suitable key, whereupon the upper, front closure 2 may be swung-outwardly and upwardly on its hinge 4 `and the lower, front closure 3 may, be swung outwardly and downwardly onl itsV hinge 5.

The interior 4mechanism of the machine which' is located withinvthe housing `of the machine is in theform ofaunit made up of an assembly of the various parts which produce said interior mechanism, 'and said unitary structure issuit'- ably supported in place within the housing. The unitary stru'ctureincludes a pair of spaced apart plates 1 and 8' which.. rest upon the top surface of the ybottom wall Ib of the housing and extend vertically therefrom. 'The spaced plates `'l and 8 are shown to good advantage in Figswl and 9, the showing `ofFig. 4 indicating that theplate 'I is of substantiallygreater height than is the companion plate 8. Supported by and betweenxtlie spaced plates fl and 8' is afcurved wall 9 `which extends from one of said spaced plates tothe other thereof and with the opposite side edges of said curved wall suitably secured to said spaced plates. As shownin Fig. 2 the curved wall 9 `is provided at its upper rear end with an angularly extended portion 9*,'L1the upper edge of which contacts with the innerface ofthe rearwall la of the housing of the machine. At the lower, forward edge of the curved wall 9 an upstanding bead I is fformed thereon to provide an abutmen-t which serves a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, rsaid bead embracing an upstanding extension formed on the bottom wall Ib of the housing of the machine.

Arranged in associated relation with respect to the curved wall 9 is a second curved'wall I| which is spaced from the curved wall t9 to provide a curved passageway I2 therebetween as shown to good advantage in Fig. 2. The curved wall |I is suitably secured at its opposite side edges to the spaced plates 'l and 8, and at the lower and forward end of said curved wall lIll an upwardly offset flange I3 is provided. Also at the upper and rear end of the curvedl wall an angular portion I4 is provided, this angular portion I4 and the offset flange I3 serving functions to be hereinafter set forth. Disposed within the curved passageway I2 of the machine and secured in place therein, is a pair of' oppositely disposed walls I5 which conformin shape` totheV curved shape of the passageway I2. 'I'he rear edges of the walls I5 contact with and are suitably secured `wardly from the upper ends of said side walls,

as shown in Fig. 4, and said guideways are open at their inner sides. The plate I8 aids in the support of the merchandise structures I3, I8, 20, and 2| by having the opposed side edge portions of the parts of said plate IS which are located v between the notches I'I of said plate, disposed in the lower portions of the guideways 25. rEhe portions of the plate I 6 which are received in the lower portions of the guideways are of such thickness relative to the width of the openings of said guideways that said plate portions are frictionally gripped fby the guideways to aid in 25. the support of the merchandise structures by the to the spaced plates 'I and 8 and from such points l of attachment to said spaced plates 'I andA 8 the walls I5v converge toward each other as the forward end portions of said walls are approached so as tov provide a space between the forward endportions of said walls I5 which is substantially less` than the space between the rear end pori tions of said walls I5'. Thus the forward portions of the curved walls 9 and and the forward portions of the Walls I5f provide a discharge' opening I2 at the lower portion of the front of they machine whichV is located approximately midway between the opposite sides of the machine and which is relatively narrow when corn.-` pared with the width of the machine as shown in Fig., 1'.

Securedto the angular portion |4= at theupper and rear end of the curved wally II is a correspondingly angled portion I6" of an upstanding plate I6, said plate IIS being provided with a plurality of notches Il as is shown to the best advantage in Fig. 4. The plate I6 aids in the support. of the walls of a plurality of'merc-handise storage structures, there being four of said'merchandisestorage structures shown i-n the draw ings. and designated by the reference characters f8, I9, 20, and 2|, although obviously a greater or lesser number of such merchandise structures may be employed in producing vending machines in accordance with this. invention. Each of the merchandise compartments I9. I9, 20, and' 2|, comprises y.a pairv of' spaced side walls 22 which are of substantial height and are disposed vertically within the housing of the machine.v Supported by and between the spaced, side walls of each merchandise storage structure is a plurality ofY shelves 23 whichl are inclined downwardly from the front of the, merchandise storagev struc'- ture to the rear thereof, said shelves being spaced apart inthe vertical direction of the merchandise storage structure as shown to good advantage in Figs. `Ziand 5 to provide a vertical row of merchandisecompartments 24. Each of the merchandise compartments 24 is produced by a ypair of the inclined' shelves and by portions of the opposed sidie walls out' the merchandise structure, and said merchandise compartments are each open. at the front of the merchandise storageV structure; and. at the rear thereof.

At` the rearr portions of the side walls of each.

plate I6. The merchandise structures IS, I9, 20, and 2| are additionally supported by an angle bar 26 (Fig. 2) which is supported adjacent to its opposite ends by portions of the spaced plates 30?'1 and 8 and is suitably secured in place, said angle bar extending transversely of the iront portion of the machine and having an outwardly extended lower horizontal portion that rests on parts of said spaced plates I and B, a vertical portion that extends upwardly from the inner edge of said lower horizontal portion, and an upper, inwardly extended portion which is extended into notches 21 formed in forward portions of the side walls of the merchandise structures I8, I9, 20, and 2l.

The side walls 22 of each of the merchandise structures I8, I9, 29 and 2|, support at a point adjacent to their upper ends a shaft 28 which is supported for rotation in bearing openings formed in said side walls, and xedly mounted on the shaft `of each merchandise structure is a roller 29 whose length is substantially the same as the space between said side walls. The roller 29 of each merchandise structure has associated therewith a strip 30 of flexible material, said strip of material being secured at one of its ends by suitable fastening means 3| (Fig. 5) to the roller and being extended downwardly therefrom. The opposite side edge portions of each strip of material are disposed in and are guided by the guideways 25 of the associated merchandise structure, and at the lower end portion of each strip 3B an angular element 32 is suitably secured thereto, each angular element comprising a vertically disposed portion 32a which contacts with the associated strip of material and a horizontally extended portion 32h which extends outwardly from the upper portion of said vertically disposed: portion 32a. The angular element 32 of the strip oi material 3D of each merchandise structure I8, I9, 29, and 2|, has xed thereto an arm 33 which extends transversely of the associated merchandise structure to a point beyond a side thereof, and then is projected forwardly of the merchandise structure to a point slightly in advance of the forward por-y tion thereof (Fig. 6) these arms 33 being adapted to perform a function to be hereinafter set forth.

The strip of material 30 of each merchandise structure I8, I9, 2|), and 2|, has formed therethrough a vertically arranged row of spaced apei'-,

tures `34. Also the roller 29 of each merchandise structure is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cavities 35 (Fig. 5) which are open at the circumferential face of the roller. As will be hereinafter explained when the operation of the machine is described the rollers 29 are adapted to be intermittently rotated so as to roll the associated strips of material 30 on said rollers, and the apertures 34 of the strips of material and the cavities 35 of the rollers are so spaced that when the strips of material are rolled on the rollers the apertures of the strips register with the cavities of the rollers and apertures of various turns of the strips of material arranged about the rollers register with each other as well as with the cavities of the rollers.

In order to lock the strips of material 30 in various positions to which they are moved during Operation of the machine by being rolled on the rollers 29, each merchandise structure I8, I9, 2l), and 2| supports at its upper end a locking device 36. Each locking device 36 comprises an angular member 31 having a vertical plate portion 31a which is disposed at the rear of the associated merchandise structure and a plate portion 31h which is an angular continuation of the plate portion31a and overhangs the associated merchandise structure. At the intersection of the plate portions 31a and 31h the angular member 31 of each locking device 36 is provided with opposed inturned ears 38, and pivot pins 39 extend through said ears and through parts of the side walls of the associated merchandise structure to pivotally attach said angular member 31 to said side Walls of the merchandise structure. Adjacent to the lower end of the plate portion 31a of each locking device 36 a locking pin 40 (Fig. 5) is ilxedly mounted thereon, and this locking pin is adapted during operation of the machine, to move into and out of apertures of theassociated strip of material 30 to lock and release said strip of material and thereby prevent or permit movement thereof. The strip of material 30 of each merchandise structure I8, I9, 28, and 2 I, is locked as each aperture 34 of the strip reaches the location of the locking pin 4I] 0f the associated locking device 36 and as this position is reached by an aperture of the strip4 of material a cavity of the associated roller` 29 is in registration with said aperture. This permits the locking pin to pass entirely through the properly positioned aperture and into the registering cavity of the roller so as to securely lock the strip of material against Inove-v ment. The angular member 31 of the locking device of each merchandise structure I9, I9, 20,` and 2I includes an integral side extension 4I which is disposed vertically adjacent to a side wall of the associated merchandise structure. This side extension is provided with an outstanding.

ear 42 and an outstanding ear 43 which are contacted by operating parts of the machine. as will. be hereinafter fully described, to activate the locking device 36 to positions where the associated strip of material 3l) is locked thereby or released therefrom.'

Fixedly mounted on the shaft 38 at the upper portion of each of the merchandise storage structures I8, I9, 20, and 2I, is a ratchet wheel 44. The ratchet wheel is preferably provided with a centrally located noncircular opening which receives a correspondingly shaped end portion of the shaft 28 (Fig. 12) so that rotation of the ratchet 'wheel will impart like rotation to the associated shaft. The ratchet wheel 44 of each merchandise storage structure is attached in place by a screw 45 which as shown in Fig. 12 includes a screw-threaded shank portion that is screwed into a screw-threaded opening formed at an end of the associated shaft 26. The screw 45 includes also an enlarged smooth-surfaced portion 45a which is interposed between the screwthreaded shank portion and the head of the screw, and mounted for oscillatory movement on said enlarged portion 45a is an arm 46, the arm46 being provided with an opening formed therethrough through which the enlarged portion of. the screw extends. The opening through which the enlarged portion 45a of the screw 45 extends is located intermediate the ends of the arm 46 and at one end of said arm a pawl 41 is'pivoted to said arm by a pivot element 48. The pawl 41 is inthe form of anangular structure, said pawl including astraight arm portion 41a which is pivoted to the arm 46 by the pivot element 48, and4 an extension 41h which projects from the free Y end of the arm portion 41a at an approximate right angle with respect thereto, The pawl 41 has attached thereto one end of a coil `spring 49, the Opposite end of the said spring being fixed to a pin 50 extended from the arm 46,

, Pivotally attached to the opposite end of the arm 46 associated with each merchandise storage structure, by means of a pivot element 5I, is an elongated bar 52 which extends downwardly from the end of the arm 46, to which it is attached toward ythe lower portion of the machine. The bar 52 is adapted to be moved downwardly by mechanism which will be hereinafter described to'oscillate the arm 46 about the enlarged portion 45a of the screw 45, the portion 41b of the pawl 41 `being adapted to engage one of the teeth of theratchet wheel 44 during each such movement of thearm 46 to rotate the ratchet wheel, the shaft 28, and the roller 29 a portion of a revolution.` The ratchet wheel 44 of each merchandise storage structure also has associated therewith' a detent pawl 44' which engages teeth of the ratchet wheel and prevents retrograde movement thereof. l

Supported by the spaced plates 1 and 8 is a shaft 53 which is mounted for rotation in openings formed in said spaced plates. The shaft 53 has mounted thereon a plurality of arm structures 54,V there being one of said arm structures for each merchandise storage `structure I8, I9,

` 28, and 2| and the elongated bar 52 of each merchandise storage structure being pivotally attached, by a pivot element 55, to the arm structure 54 related to said merchandise storage structure. The arm structures 54 are loosely supported by the shaft for rotary movement with respect thereto, and each arm structure is of U-shaped formation, as shown in Fig. 9. In other words each arm structure comprises a pair of spaced, parallel arm portions 54a and 54h which are joined by a bridge portion 54C, the shaft being extended' through alined apertures formed through the spaced, parallel arm portions and the associated elongated bar 52 being pivotally attached by the pivot element 55 to the outer portion of the arm portion 54a.

Supported by the shaft, 53 and rigidly fixed thereto is a plurality of collars 56 (Fig. 9), each of which has xed thereto and extended therefrom a rod 51. The collars 56 correspond in number to the number of the arm structures 54, and each of said collars is arranged in contact with a side face of one of said arm structures. Also supported by the shaft 53 is a plurality of levers 58, said levers, like the arm structures. 54,

being loosely mounted on, said shaft 53 for rotary movement with respect thereto. The levers4 58 correspond in number to the number of the collars and' rod structures 56-.51 and the arm structures d, each of said levers being arranged to contact with a side facev of one of the collars 56. Also each of the levers 58 is provided at its upper end, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 9,'with a rectangularly projected extension 59 which overhangs the adjacent rod 51 and the arm portion 54h of the adjacent arm structure 54. Additionally, at itsl opposite end, each lever 53 is provided vwith a. rectangularly projected extension 6D which extends in the opposite direction to the extension 5,9 and has formed therein at its lower portion a notch 6|. The loosely supported arm structures 54 and levers 53 are maintained in their proper spaced relation with respect toeach other and with respect to the spaced plates 1 and 8 by spacers 62 in the form of tubular elements that embrace the shaft 53. y

Supported at the front of Athe lower portion of the machine A is a plate 63 which` extends from side to side of the machine and is of substantia-l height, said plate having a horizontal, inwardly extended flange 64 formed at its upper end, and being provided with a corresponding, though narrower, flange 65 at its lower end. f 'I'he upper flange 6ft of the plate 63 is suitably secured to the lower, outwardly extended flange of the angle bar 26, and the lower flange 65 of said plate 63 is secured to the ange portion I3 at the forward end of the curved wall Il (Fig. 2). Additionally, the lower, front closure 3 is provided at the upper edge of the discharge opening l2 with an inwardly extended, horizontally disposed flange t6 which contacts with the lower face of thel lower flange 65 of the plate 63. Also the plate 53 is provided with inwardly extended side flanges 61 which are secured to the spaced plates 1 and 8.Y I

The plate 63 has formed therein a plurality of vertically disposed slots 68 which are open at the top of the plate and terminate at their lower ends at points spaced upwardly from the lower end of said plate. Associated with the plate 63 is a plurality of operating elements 69, 16, 1|, 12,` and 13, which are supported for vertical sliding movement with respect to the plate 63 and each of which is provided at its upper end with anv outwardly extended finger grip 14. Each of the operating elements 5S, 10, 1l, 12, and 13, contacts,

with the forward face of the plate 63 and is provided with a vertically elongated,A guiding portiony 'l5 which is disposed in the corresponding slot 68. The guiding portion of each operating element maybe formed integral with the operating element or may be xed thereto as desired, and said guidingv portion is of the approximate width ofthe slot in which it is disposed so that the opposite side edges of the guiding portion contact with the opposed side walls of the slot. The operating elements 69,10, 1|, 12, and 13, are wider than` the slots 68 and than the guidingl portions so that portions of said operating elements overlap portions of the forward face of the plate 63. adjacent to the opposite sides of the slots 68. Also at the rear face of the plate 63. the; guiding elements 69, 10, 1I, 12, and 13, have secured thereto members 16 which are likewise of greater width than the slots 68 so that they overlap portions ofv they rear face of the plate 63. adjacent to opposite sides of the slots 68.

Fromv theV foregoingit is plain that the operat ing elements; 69 1),` 11;, 1,-2, and 1,3v are supported by. the'plate 63' for guided vertical movement, the guiding portions 15 of said operatingelements moving with the operating elements through the slots 68 with their opposite side edges in contact with the opposed side walls of the slots, and portions of the operating elements and of the members 16 moving in sliding engage-` ment with portions vof the forward and rear faces ofthe plate 63. it is to be noted also that downward movement of the operating elements is limited by contact of the lower edges of the guiding portions 15 with the bottom walls of the slots 63, and upward movement of said operating elements is limited by Contact of therupper ends of the members 16 with the lower face of the upper flange 6d of the plate 63.

The members 16 of the operating elements 69, 18, 1l, and 12, have formed thereon extensions 11 which are projected rearwardly therefrom, there beingone of such extensions formed on each of said members 16. The rear portions of the extensions 11 are disposed in the notches 6I formed in the lower portions 60 of the levers 58 so that under certain circumstances in the operating of the machine any one of said operating elements 69, 16, 1l, and 12, may be drawn upwardly to rotate the corresponding lever 58 about the shaft 53. Attention is directed to the fact that the operating element 13 includes no extension resembling the' extensions 11 associated with the operating elements 69, 16, 1i, and 12, and the reason for this situation will be hereinafter pointed out.

It is important in the operation of the machine A that only one of the operating elements '679,V 1B, 1l, 12, and 13, be capable of operation during a single operation of the machine and therefore the plate 63 has xed to its inner face a plurality of guide structures 16 (Figs. 7 and 8). Each of the guide structures supports for sliding movement an element 19, said elements being longer than the guide structures so that each element 19'normally extendsY outwardly beyond the opposite ends of the guide structure by which it is supported. The elements 19 contact-with each other at ends thereof, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. '1, the outermost guide structure having slots 8i) formed in their rear walls through which pins 8i, which are' supported by the elements 19 supported by said outermost guide structures, extend. Also, leaf springs 82, whichk are anchored to the lower flange 65 of the plate 63 contact at their upper end portions with the pins .81' and tend to move the outermost elements 19'inwardly whereby the elements 19 are maintained in Contact with each other at ends thereof and the entire group of elements are maintained in their effective positions. The members 16 associated with the operating elements 69, 10, 1|, 12, and 15' are provided with pointed upper ends the inclined edges of which serve as cam faces, and the elements 16 are provided with cam faces 83 at opposite ends thereof which are adapted toA be engaged by the cam faces of the members 16.

The slots Si) formed in the outermost guide members 18 are of such length that the pins 8| are limited to such movement that the elements 19 may move suiiciently to allow only one of the members 16 to pass the positions of said elements 19 during a single operation of the machine. In other words, when a proper coin is introduced into the machine and one of the operating elements 69, 16, 1i, 12, and 13 is moved upwardly, a cam face ofthe member 16 of either of the' end operating elements, or the cam faces of the membei' 1B of' one of the intermediate operating elements,willengage a cam face or cam faces of one or more of the lelements 19. Such engagement between said cam faces will shift the elements 419 allowing the member 16 of the operating element being moved to pass upwardly beyond the position of the elements 19 to operate the ma chine as will be hereinafter explained. Such shifting of theelements 19 will movefthe cam facesV of the other 4elements `19 out' of the lines of movement of the cam faces of the members 16 of the other, unmoved operating elements, with the result any attempted upward movement .of 'one of said otheroperating elementsy while the `one moved operating element is in its raised posi'- tion, will result in the upper end of the member 16 `of the secondoperating element engaging a straightportion of theilower edge `of an `element 19 and thus prevent such attempted movement -of said secondoperating element; Likewise ifV an attempt is` made vto move twoiof the operating elementsil, 10, 1|, 12, and 13, upwardly simultaneouslylthe cam `facesof the members 16 of the tworoperating elements movement of which is attempted will tend to movethe element or elements `19 located between said two operating 'elements in` opposite directions simultaneously. -Thisbeing impossible both of the operating elements movement of which is attempted will be positively locked againstupward movement.

'a 4Referring now to the coin-controlled mechanism for permitting operation `of the machine lattention is directed toFigs. 3, 4,l and 10 of the drawings. :8.42ct segmental shape which is rigidly fixed to anend portion of the shaftV 53, said segmental vmember 84 being provided with a hub portion 84' from which an extension 85` isprojected. The 4shaft 53 projects outwardly beyond the outer face of the hub portion of the member 84 and wound about this extended end portion of the shaft is a torsional coil spring` 86, one end portion of said coil'spring beingl attached to the extension `85-and the opposite `end portion thereof extending downwardly and contacting with the lower flange 65 of thev plate 63 so that saidl torsional coil springtends to'move the segmental member .84 inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. Thesegmental member 84 has formed therein a cavity 81, said cavity being closed at its opposite sides by portions of the segmental member 84, and being open: at the straight, forward edge 84a of said segmental member and at the arcuate edge 84b'thereof, and its base being shaped as indicatedby the irregular dotted linein Figs. 3 and 10. -The segmental member 84 is provided with a second cavity 88 which is closed at its opposite sides by portions of said segmental memberfand is "open at the arcuate face of said segmental member, said second cavity having a' base shaped as shown by-dotted lines in Figs. 3 and l', Between the cavities 8T and 88 the segmental member 84 is providedwith a solid portion 89 which is provided with an outer edge that conforms to the curvature of the arcuate edge 84h of said segmental member. The segmental member 84' is provided also with a plurality of teeth 90 which are formed at `the lower portion of the arcuate edge thereof. y v-Arr-a'nged adjacent tothe segmental member 84; and' in alinementtherewith is a coin-receivin'g`7-element A9| which is of the approximate thickness of said segmentall member 84 and is This mechanism includes a member v pivoted to the spaced plate"1 by a pivot element 75 .92... The coin-receiving element 8| is shaped in side elevation as shown in Figs. '3 and 10; that is tosayfit'is ywider at its upper end and is provided aty its lower, narrower endwith `an outstanding toothl93 zwhich, as will presently appear herein is adaptedto'be engaged by the te`eth90 of the :segmental member-84. The coin-receiving element 9| isiprovided `with an arcuate edge 9|' yWhichcorresponds with the arcuate edge of the segmental member 84,-and at the upper end of @said coin-receiving element in spaced relation -with respect to the location of the pivot element `92a pin 194 is projected outwardly from'said coin- ;receiving element. The y coin-receiving 'element 9| 'has a cavity 95 formed therein which is closed at its sides and at its forward and rear edges byportions'of the element, said cavity y95Y being lopennttuthe top edge ofthe coin-receiving ele mentand at the arcuate face 9 thereof.

f Associated with thezcoinereceiving element 9| ,isa coin chute 96 which is provided with' a flange '95!at its upper end that contactswith the inner face` of the upper; front closure 2 ofthe machine. said upper; front closure having al coin slot 91,formed therein (Fig. 3) which registers with theu'pper portionA of the passageway` of the `coin chute 96; The coin chute 96 is suitably secured to the spaced plate 1v and itzterminates at itslower end immediately above the coin-receiving element .9| so Vthat a coin introduced into the coin chute through the coin slot 91 will be conducted `downwardly by the coin chute and will be discharged from the lower end thereof into'the cavity 9530i the coin-receiving element 9|. Also .associated with the coin-receiving element 9|I at itslowerend is an inclined coin-discharge chute 98, `whichlis secured to the spaced plate 1. The 4coinfdischarge chute is of angular formation as 'shown inFigs. 3 and 10 and it cooperates with aaportionof the spaced plate 1 to provide an qangularlyrshaped trough, as shown in Fig. 9, `which under certain circumstancesV receives a coin from the coin mechanism providedby the segmental member 84k andthe coin-receiving element 9|, thespaced plate 1 being provided with van opening 98' through which a coin may pass from saidicoinvchute V98 into the passageway l2 ,ofthemachina v l f L As has been previously statedy herein 'the members 18ct-*only the operating members 69, 10, 1|,

and 12 arelprovided withextensions 11 which engage :thevlower portions 60 Vof the levers 58, the member-.180i the operating element 13 being provided with no such extension "11. However, the member 18 of the operating element 13 does have ,extendedtherefroman arm 99 which is shaped as shown in Fig. `3; that is tol say,` said arm is extended rearwardly and upwardly from the member 61 ofthe operating element 13 and at its rear end 4is `provided with ahorizontal portion 99C whichtis disposed immediately beneath the pin 94 of the coin-receiving element 9|. VAs will presently appear herein the operating element 13,may be raised to cause the rear portion 99' of the arm 99'to contact with and elevate the-pin 94 andmove the coin-receiving element 9| about its pivot 92. .This will release a coin supported bythe element 9| and vpermit it to fall, into the coin chute 98 for passage through the opening 98'v into the passageway |2 of the machine.

i Mounted for rotary movement on the shaft 28 of 4each `merchandise storage structure I8, I9, 20, and 2li, immediately adjacent Vto the ratchet Wheel Miof'said shaft, is aV cam member |00 which is provided with a forwardly projected operating portion IEM. The'v'cam member-tis provided with an arcuate caml face.V` I'Il2y which-joins Vasti-aight `face,y portion `I 03, and extended Vrearwardly .from `this straightface isa rearwardly extended curved portion I0!! of said cam member which-'includesia f" #laterally projectedf flange portion-1047:l `Ther-cam lmember and'at its .opposite end to'a'pin I01 xed tol a side 'wallofi'the associated merchandise l storage structure. Y l lf In' the yoperation ofthe improvedrvending 'machine disclosed herein a proper coin is introduced into the :coinA slot 91 andl saidcoin passes ldownwardly -throughfthe coin chiite 96 andfallslinto the cavity 95 of'the coin-receiving elemente-I, said coin iinally'lreaching the'position in which it is shown in Fig, whereinitiis `designated'by the reference character 'CiV 'I'helforwardly extended fnger grip of `the operating elementli, 10, 1I, orf12 associated withlthe particular mer'- chandise i storage :structure f8, I9; 211, or 122i, vfrom whichran article offmerchandise 'is `t'o'be withdrawn: by vthe operation A`oflthe machina` is 'thenmovedupwardly by the operator ofthe machine., Such' upward? movement 'fof the selected fro operating .element causes the extension 11 'assol ciatedwith isaid operating element A*to VVlnovefthe lower 'endportionj of `ther-associated lever 58' upwardly thereby rotatingthe uppei` .portionr of the f lever downwardly `and rearwardly about the vshaft 531and subjecting said 'shaft 53 'to rotary movement because oi .the contact vbetweenv :the eX- tension 59 of the lever and. the associated 1r'od51 .which'iszcarried by a collar 56 flxed'ltoi the shaft 53., 4Upon suchrotary movement of'theshaft 53 the .segmental member '84, 'whichris iixed to said -.shaft, rotates `with respect to the associated coinreceivingelement 9I,and the base'of vthe Ycavity `88 ofv thesegmental member-84'v 'andithe outer edge ofthe ysolid-.portion B9 "of said 4s'e'gn'fiental .vnc'iernberk serve as. av continuous `camfacze which cams the coin to the right, as shownin fEig'; 1Y0, .to move the coin-receivingl element' 191 abeut its pivot 'S2-and remove 'thetoothS-i at the'flowerend of saidcoinfreceiving'element out SofitheV path of movement of the teeth 90 oftheV rotatin'glisegmenta-lmember. Continuation of the `rotation of the lever 58 by thecupwardly movingoperating elementjil,l 1U, 1I, orrlIZg-.fcauses the extension t 59 .on said lever to contact with the larm portion .54h of the associatedarm Structure "5l aindfmove Vthe rear portion .of said'arm structuredownwa'rdly aboutl the' shaft53, with, the resultr that 'the associated'V elongated bar, 52, which is Vpivotally attached to said arm structure is drawn-downlwardly. Downward movement of the elongated bar 52p moves theforward end of `the associated arm 46rdownwardly andthe rear e'nd thereof upwardly, 44and 'the pawl` 41,` pivotally "attached to said rear portion ofA said'arm '46,; lengages f one fof the teeth ofA theratchet wheel ofthe associated shaftvZii4 torotate saidhaft and the-roller mounted thereon.. f ,t

` Normally the strip :of iiexiblevmaterial 3D is locked against movement by the-disposition of the pinfdl of the associatedlocking device 36 in one of: vthe openingsll of said strip of material, lolutas the forward end ofnthe arm `fili'andthe upper end' of theelongatedbar '5 2 lare .moved assigns downwardly by the rotating lever 58 the weight of the side extension 4I of the locking device, from which support has been removed by downward rmovement of the bar 52 and the forward end of thearrn, causes the forward end of said locking device to drop downwardly and the .rear portion thereof to swing outwardly thereby withdrawing the pin di) of 'the locking device from lthe opening 3A in the associated strip of material 35 in which it had been disposed. 'Ihe continued downward movementv of the bar 52 and the consequent upward movement of the rear portion of the arm t5, with the pawl 41 in engagement with a tooth of the associated ratchet wheel M subjects the shaft 28- vand the roller`29 mounted thereon to a predetermined amount of rotary motion. s

The stripy of iiexib-le material 30 associated with :each of .the merchandise storage structures I8, I9, 2e, and 2i serves to close the lower, rear ends of the' merchandise compartments 24 of .the merchandise structure, and each merchandise compartment so closed by the strip of flexible material has an article of merchandise disposed therein which is retained within lthe compartment by the strip of flexible material 30. However, when a shaft 28 and its associated roller are rotated as described upon introduction of a proper'coin in the machine .such rotation is sufcient to wind on the roller the required amount of the associated strip of material 30 to raise the lower end of said strip of material the proper distance to expose the rear, lower end of the lowermost compartment 24 which prior to the operation of the machine was closed at its lower end by the strip of material and which contains an article of merchandise. As the lower end of the strip of material 3! is moved upwardly to expose the lower, rear end of the lowermost load'- ed `compartment 24 ontoperation of the machine as described, the article of merchandise con'- tained in said compartment slides from the rear end thereof and drops into the curved passageway l2 wherein said larticle of merchandise is conducted by the curved bottom wall of `said passageway and is guided by the vvwalls I5 thereof to the forward portion of the passageway kI2 `where its motion is arrested by the bead I 0. The operator of the machine may then reach into the discharge opening w'I2' and remove the article of merchandise purchased by From the foregoing it is plain that when the machineis fully serviced an article of merchandise is in each compartment of each -of the merchandise storage structures I8, I9, 20, and 2l and the strips of material 3G associated with the respective merchandise storage structures are drawn downwardly so that their lowermost end portions .close the lowermost compartments 2l of the merchandise storage structures and all of the compartments thereabove. An operator of the machine need only to introduce a proper coin into the coin slot 91 of the machine and raise the operating element 619, 10, 1I, or 12 lassociated with the particular merchandise storage structurn in which articles of the kind that he desires to purchase are stored. The machine will then follow through its sequence of operations to raise the lower portion of the strip of material assos ciated with the operating element actuated and one of the desired articles of merchandise Will be` delivered to the discharge opening I2 of the machine. Likewise on each subsequent operation of the machine the strip of material 30 associated with the merchandise storage structure bei` ing operated is wound on its associated roller sufficiently to'expose the rear end of the lowermost compartment in which an article of merchandise is contained and the article in that lowermost compartment is discharged into the curved passageway I2 for delivery to the purchaser. When articles of merchandisel have been discharged from all of the compartments of any one of the merchandise storage structures by repeated operations of the machine the word Empty (see Fig. ll), which is appliedvto the strip of material 30 of the exhaustedmerchandise structure appearsat the window |08 associated with that merchandise storage structure, thus notifying prospective operators of themachine that no articles of merchandiseremain in that particular merchandise storage structure.

It has been stated herein that when the machine is at rest, as shown in Fig. 2,A the strips of material 30 of the merchandise storage structures I8, I9, 2i), and 2| are locked by disposition of the pins 40 of the locking devices 36 in openings 34 of said strips of material, and that on commencementl of `downward movement of the bar 52 and the forward end of the arm 48 associated with a merchandsestorage structure, the side extension 4| of the locking device of that storage structure moves downwardly thereby moving the pin 4E out of theopening of the strip of material in which it was disposed to release the strip of material for movement. The strip of material 30 of an operated merchandise storage structure is also locked by the pin 40 of the associated locking device 3S when the bar 52 reaches the limit of its downward movement and when the lower end portion of the associated strip of material has been raisedA to release an article of merchandise from. the lowermost compartment i4.- containing an article of merchandise. This is accomplished by the pawl 41 engaging the ear 43 of the associated 'locking device 36 during the iinalportion of the upward and forward movement ofthe rear portion of lthe associated arm 45 whereby the locking device is actuated to cause the pin 40 thereof to move into an appropriate opening 34 of the strip of material 30 (see Fig. 11); By so locking the strips of material whe-n they have completed the action of uncovering the lowermost loaded compartments of the merchandise structures all likelihood that overrunning or bouncing of the strips of material which would uncover more than one merchandise compartment is prevented.

When the mechanism at the upper end of :an operated merchandise structure `reaches the phase of its operation as illustrated in Fig..11 and as just described, the operated operating element 69, 10, 'l I, or 12, is in its uppermost position, and as the operator of the machine releases said operating element the torsional coil spring 86 returns the operated mechanism of the machine to the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 2. During such movement the pawl 41 moves away from the ear 43 of the locking device allowing the weight of the side extension thereof to move the pin 40 outwardly out of the opening 34 of the strip of material in which it'was disposed, and the associated strip of material is free from engagement by the locking device until the upper end of the bar 52 and the forward end of the arml46 again engage and raise the ear 42 of the locking device to again introduce the pin 40 of the locking device into the opening of the strip of material 30. It is obvious that when the bar 52 `is being moved from the lowered position-in whichit is shown in Fig. 11 to the elevated position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the associated strip of material 30 is stationary, though unlocked, because at this time said strip of material is subjected to no force which would tend to move it.

As the strip of material 30 of any one-of the merchandise storage structures I3, I0, 20, or 2|,

starts its upward movement to uncover the uppermost merchandise compartment of the merchandise storage structure, the horizontal portion 3217 of the angular element 32 of that strip of material engages the lateral flange portion I 04 of the rearwardly extended portion |04 of the associated cam member |00 and moves said rearwardly extended portion upwardly therewith. This subjects the cam member |00 to limited rotary movement about the associated shaft 28 which brings the cam face |85 of said cam member to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 13 where it cams the pawl`41 outwardly and prevents it from moving beneath and-engaging a tooth of the associated ratchet wheel 44. Thus any attempted additional operation of the shaft 28, roller 20, and strip of material 30 of a merchandise storage structure after the stock of rmerchandise has `been 'exhausted therefrom is prevented, as any additional operations of the bar 52 and the arm 45 will result merely in the pawl 4'! sliding idly along the cam face |05 with- `out engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel 44.

When one or more of the merchandise storage structures have been exhausted of merchandise articles and an attendant desires to reload the compartment or compartments, he unlocks the front of the machine and raises the upper, front closure 2. With one hand the attendant depresses the operating portion ||l| of the cam member |09 whereby the cam face |02 of said cam member cams the detent pawl 44 out of the path of travel of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 44, the

`cam face |05 of said cam member continuing to Ihold the pawl 41 out Vof engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 44.` He then grasps the-appropriate arm 33 and draws the strip of material 30 downwardly to its lowermost position unwinding said strip from the roller of the freely rotating shaft 28. The cam member is then released to permit the spring |05 to return it to its normal position and the attendant may then introduce articles of merchandise into the empty compartments.

Returning now to the coin-controlled mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 10, the normal opera- Ytion of the machine which results in an article of merchandise being delivered to a purchaser causes the segmental member 84 to be rotated to `the right in Fig. l0 to a suflicient degree to per- `mit the coin C to pass into the cavity 8'1 of said segmental member, and when said segmental member is returned to its position of rest as the operation of the machine is completed, as shown in Fig.,3, the coin drops from said cavity into the bottom of the machine from which it may be removed by displacement of the lower, front closure ly. This will release the coin and permit lit to drop in the chute 98 and pass through the opening 98 in the spaced plate 1 into the passage.- way l2, said opening 98 -eing above the rear end of the adjacent wall I5.

It has been previously pointed out herein that the elements 19 (Fig. '1) permit only one of the operating elements 59, 10, 1|, 12, and 13 to be operated during a single operation of the machine, and therefore it is not possible for an operator ofthe machine to receive more than one article of merchandise on introduction of a single `coin in the machine. Likewise, because the elements 19 permit only one operating element to be operated at a time it is not possible for an operator of the machine lto raise the operating 'element 13 so as to remove the tooth and `the lower end of the coin-receiving element 9i out of vthe path of movement of the teeth 9i! and then operate another operating element to cause the machine to deliver an article of merchandise. Obviously, the tooth 93 at the lower end of the coin-receiving element 9| engages one of the teeth 96 of the segmental member 84 to prevent operation of the Amachine to deliver an article of to remove its tooth 93 from the vpath of travel of the teeth 90 of the segmental member 84 and thereby permit the shaft `53 to be rotated. Such rel-ease of the shaft 53 for rotary movement i allows the portion 59 of the lever 58 associated with the operated operating element to move the Iassociated rod 51 so that said portion 59 may engage and rotate the yarm structure 54 to which the bar v52 of the operated mechanism is pivotally attached, said rod 51 preventing engagement rof ithe arm structure by the portion 59 of the lever .-58 when the shaft v5.3 is locked. Also a plurality of teeth 9i) are employed to make sure that a tooth of the segmental member will be present for engagement with the tooth -93 ofthe `coin-receiving element 9| even though the segmental member should not bein vits fully re- `'-tracted position.

, AI claim:

l. A vending machine including ,a merchandise storage lstructure provided with a vertical row of mechandise compartments having mechandise supports which incline downwardly to lprovide said merchandise compartments with discharge vends at the locations of the -lowermost portions -oi' said inclined merchandise-supports, astrip of lmove .said strip of material .with respect .to .said

ments zthereof, means for subjecting .said roller to :intermittent rotary -movement so .as :to .-roll :said strip of material thereon andlmove ,a ipory.

.tion oi the strip of materialoutof mechandiseretaining relation ywith-respect yto-.successive :mer-

chandise compartments .to permit discharge :of merchandise therefrom, andfmeans for locking said strip'oi 'material against unintended move iment, said stripof Amaterial being provided vwith spacedapertures and said vlocking means comprising anelement provided with a `portion which :is movable intoa,properlypositionedone oi said apertures to lock said strip of material.

6.0 merchandise storage structure .and relative to the dischargeends of the .merchandise compart- A 2. .A Vending machine including a merchandise storage structure provided with a vertical row of merchandise vc ompartme nts having merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provide said merchandise compartments with discharge ends `at the locations of the lowermost portions of said inclined merchandise supports, a strip oi material disposed at the discharge ends of said merchandise compartments for normally retaining articles of merchandise within said merchandise compartments, a roller on which said strip of material is adapted to be rolled so as to `move said strip of material with respect to said merchandise storage Astructure and relative to `the discharge Aends of the merchandise compartments thereof, means for subjecting said roller to intermittent rotary movement so as to roll said strip of material thereon and move a portion of the strip oi material out of merchandise-retaining relation with respect to successive merchandise compartments to permit discharge of merchandise therefrom, and means for locking said strip .of material against unintended movement. said strip of material being provided with spaced apertures and said locking means comprising an element supported for pivotal movement and provided with a portion which is movable into a properly positioned one of said apertures to lock said strip vof material.

3. A vending machine including a merchandise storage structure provided with a vertical row of merchandise compartments having merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provide said merchandise compartments with discharge Yends at the location of the lowermost portions of said Vinclined merchandise supports, a strip of material disposed at the discharge ends oi said merchandise compartments for normally retaining articles of merchandise within said merchandise compartments, a roller` on which said strip of material is adapted to be rolled so as to move said strip of material with respect to said mer.- .chandise storage structure and relative to the discharge `ends of the merchandise compart- `ments thereof, means for subjecting said roller `to -intermittent rotary movement so as to roll said strip of material thereon and move a por.- tion of the strip of material out of merchandise- Aretaining relation with respect to successive merchandise compartments to permit discharge of `merchandise therefrom, said means for rotating said .roller comprising a ratchet wheel associated with said roller, and an arm supported for rocking movement and provided with a pawl adapted A.to engage successive teeth of said ratchet wheel and subject said ratchet wheel and said roller to intermittent rotary movement, and means for locking said strip of material against unintended movement, said strip of `material being provided with spaced apertures yand said Vlocking means comprising an element supported for pivotal `movement and lprovided with a portion which is vmovable into ya properly positioned one of said apertures `to lock said `strip of material upon ,pivotal movement .of said pivotally supported ele.- -ment as a result of contact therewith of said `roc-k arm.

.4. A vending machine including `a merchandise storage structure provided with a vertical row of merchandise compartments having merchandise `v`supports which vincline downwardly to provide `said merchandise compartments with discharge `ends at the location of the flowermost portions .ofisaid inclined merchandise supports, a strip of 4material disposed at the discharge ,ends of said merchandise compartments for normally retaining articles of merchandise within said merchandise compartments, a roller on which said strip of material is adapted to be rolled so as to move s aid strip of material with respect to said merchandise storage structure and relative to thev discharge ends of the merchandise compartments thereof, means for subjecting said roller to intermittent rotary movement so as to roll said strip of material thereon and move a portion of the strip `of material out of merchandise-retaining'relation with respect to successive merchandise compartments to permit discharge of merchandise therefrom, said means for rotatingsaid roller comprising a ratchet Wheel associated with said roller,` and an arm supported for rocking movement and provided with a pawl adapted to engage successive teeth of said ratchet wheel and subject said ratchet wheel and said roller to intermittent rotary movement, and means for locking said strip of material against unintended movement, said strip of material being provided with spaced apertures and said roller being provided with circumferentially spaced cavities into alined relation with which the apertures of said strip of material are movable, said locking means comprisingA an element supported for pivotal movement and provided with a portion which is movable into a properly positioned one oi said apertures and into the cavity of the roller alined therewith to lock said strip of material upon pivotal movement of said pivotally supported element as a result of contact therewith of said rock arm.

5. A vending machine including a merchandise storage structure provided with a vertical row of merchandise compartments having merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provide said merchandise compartments with discharge ends at the location of the lowermost portions of said inclined merchandise supports, anstrip of material disposed at the discharge ends of said merchandise compartments for normally retaining articles oi merchandise Within said merchandise compartments, a roller on which said strip of material is adapted to be rolled so as to move said strip of material with respect to said merchandise storage structure and relative to the discharge ends of the merchandise compartments thereof, 'means for subjecting said roller. to intermittent rotary movementso as to roll said strip of material thereon and move a portion of the strip of material out of merchandise-retaining relation with respect to successive merchandise compartments to permit discharge of merchandise therefrom, said means for rotating said roller comprising a ratchet wheel associated with said roller, and an `arm supported for rocking movement and provided with a pawl adapted to engage successive teeth of said ratchet wheel and subject said ratchet wheel and said roller to intermittent rotary movement, and means for locking said strip of material against unintended movement, said strip of material being provided with spaced` apertures and said roller being provided with circumferentially spaced cavities into alined relation with which the apertures of said strip of material are movable, said locking means comprising an element supported for pivotal movement and provided with a portion which is movable into a properly positioned one of said apertures and into the cavity of the roller alined therewith to lock said strip of material upon pivotal movement of said pivotally supported Y 6. A vending machine including a merchandise 'storage structure provided with a vertical row i` t said strip ofY material A,is adapted to be rolled so roller to intermittent rotary movement so as to of merchandise compartments having merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provideA said merchandise compartments With discharge ends at the locations of the lowermost portions of said inclined merchandise supports, a strip ot material disposed at the discharge ends of said merchandise compartments for normally retaining articles of merchandise `within said merchandise compartments, a roller on which as tdmve said strip of material upwardly with respectto said merchandise storage structure and relative to the discharge ends of the merchandise compartments thereof, means for subjecting said roll said strip of Vmaterial thereon andmove a portion of the strip oimaterial out of merchandise-retaining relation withrespect to successive merzrchandis'e lcompartments to permit discharge of merchandise therefrom, vsaid means Vfor rotating said roller comprisingaratchet wheel associated 'with said roller, and an arm supported i'or rocking movement and provided with a pawl adapted to` engage successive teeth of `said ratchet wheel and subject said ratchet wheel and said roller tointermittent movement, and means operated when the strip of material has uncovered the uppermost merchandise compartment for preventingengagement of said pawl with teeth of said ratchet wheel.

7. A vending machine including a merchandise storage structure providing withfa vertical row of merchandise compartments having merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provide `said merchandise compartments with discharge ends at the locations of the lowermost portions Vof said inclined merchandise supports, a strip of material disposed at the discharge ends `of V,said merchandise'compartments for normally retaining articles of vmerchandise Within said merchandise compartments, a roller on which said strip of material is adapted to be rolled so vas to move said strip of` material upwardly with 'respect to fsaid merchandise storage structure and relative to the discharge ends of the merchandise compartments thereof, means for subjecting said roller to intermittent rotary movement so as to roll said strip of material thereon and move a portion of the strip of material out of merchandise-retaining relation withv respect to successive merchandise compartments to permit discharge of merchandise therefrom, said means for rotating said roller comprising a ratchet wheel associated with said roller, and an arm supported for rocking movement and provided with a pawl adapted to engage successive teeth of said ratchet wheel and subject said ratchet wheel and said roller to intermittent movement, and means operated when the strip of material has uncovered the uppermost merchandise compartment for preventing engagement of said pawl with teeth of said ratchet wheel, said strip of material being provided with an abutment and said means for preventing engagement of the pawl with teeth of the ratchet wheel comprising a rotary member having a cam face which blocks engagement of said pawl with teeth of said ratchet wheel upon movement of said;rotarymember;` by-said abutment of-said-' stripY or4 material:l Y v 8. A vending machine includingja-merchandise storage A'structure provided with-aJ verticalf-rowv dise nsupports which incline downwardlyfto- `providesaifdfA merchandise compartments Withdischargeends at the -locations-orv the lowermoste portions of said-finclined-merchandise-supports;

arstrip-*ofmaterial disposedat the discharge-ends` 10e arm supported for rockingr movement' and"provided with a pawl adapted'to -engagesuccessive teeth of said ratchet Wheel and'subject saidl of 'said-merchandise compartments fornorma-lly retaining-articles ofjj merchandise'- within; said" merchandise compartments; av roller onv4 which saidfstrip of f' material-Y is adapted to` Vbe rolled so as-toemove saidstrip `of*"material 'upward-lywith- 155L teeth of said ratchet Wheel and'prevent'retrograde rotation thereof,v and manually operable` means 1 for disengaging said pawlsfrom the teeth of said'- respectV to said merchandise; storage -structure and-relativetoA the*A discharge; ends of `vthe meri chandise `compar-tments thereof; means for subjectingu said-Lro-ller 'tos intermittent rotary move= and Amove -aportion: ofithestrip fof material out ofA merchandise-retaining-relation with respect toI successive-merchandise compartmentstol permit di-schargepf J merchandise therefrom; said means for 'rotating said roller comprising'j a" 251 dise storage structure provided with a vertical ratchet Wheeliassociatedfwithsaid roller; anarm supported-afm-y rock'ing movement'l and 1 providedY 1 with a-pawl adaptedtol engage successive teeth ot'saidvratchet wheel and subject'said Aratchet wheel` and-said' roller -tointermittentmovement; 3()

andi a secondlpawl adapted toe engage teeth of said -ratchet evvheeland-'prevent retrograde rota tion: thereon andimanually-'operablemea-nsv 'pro'- vided with an ioperating @portion at `the front ofY the merchandisecompartments thereof,- meansV for subjecting said yroller to-intermittentrotary movement so as toroll saidstrip Omaterial thereon and movealportion ofthe striprof ma!` of merchandise compartmentshavi-ng merc'han'- 55s terial out of merchandise-retainingrelation with'- v i i respect to successive merchandisercompartmentsto permit discharge of merchandise therefrom,

said means for rotating Asaid roller` comprising a ratchet Wheel associated with saidroller, an

ratchet Wheel and said roller to intermittent movement, and a second pawl adapted to engage ratchet wheel to permit the strip of material to be unwound from said roller, said manually operment so-as-to-roll-isaid Estripgof imateria-l'theredini- 205i able means comprising a rotary member having cam faces which engage said pawls and movev them out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet Wheel.

l0. A vending machineincluding a merchanrow of merchandise compartments having'merchandise supports which incline downwardly to provide said merchandise compartments with"` discharge ends at the locations of the lowermost `:portions of said inclined merchandise supports,I

said merchandise compartments, a roller, on

the machine for:simultaneouslydisengagin-g'both 355Which said strip of material is adapted to be of said pawls from the teethof'said-1ratchet 'Wheel' to permit 'fthe .stripsof materia1-'-to 'be-'unwound from; said roller...J f

9;,-` Agvendingsmachinei.including y amerch'andise storage,- structure. provided: with-- af vertical row" 40- of, merchandise compartments; .having-merchandisefsu-pports swhichaincline,downwardly -toprovidegsaid-gmerchandisei; compartments -Withfdisf chargeendsmat, the locations 1 of.A the. lowermost 'I portions4 of said inclined, merchandise`v supports;l a strip of -materiaL disposed at the-.dischargeends oflsaid, merchandise compartments, a` rollerion:l which said.striptv of materialA is; adaptedpto .be Y ro1led'se.,as to Vmove "saigi;stripe* ofyvmateria upwardly withrespect to;- said merchandise storage structure and relativen.),the dischargepends ofcL the merchandise compartments thereof, means` fior A'subjecting said vroller to` intermittent rotary movement so as to roll said strip of materialV thereon and move a portion of the strip of material out of merchandise-retaining ,relation with respect to successive merchandise compartments 45Lto permit discharge.' of merchandise therefrom, Y and means operated by, an element carried lcyY said strip of material when said strip of material has uncovered the uppermost merchandiseicomn partment for rendering said roller rotatinggmeans Qnneirective.

FRED NIEW'OEHNERL-. 

